Event Navigation

You are cordially invited to the 9th Annual Havasu Balloon Festival & Fair designated as one of THE TOP 100 EVENTS IN NORTH AMERICA by the American Bus Association — an event you do not want to miss!

Main Gate/Parking/Boat Parking Along the Channel

The main gate entrance Gate 1 (Event map) is located at 171 London Bridge Road (across from the swap meet parking lot, same entrance as other Windsor 4 events such as Rockabilly, boat shows and Bluegrass Festival).

For those arriving by boat, there will be a separate gate entrance for boaters who park along the Bridgewater Channel and enter through the beach. All boat parking is free and unreserved. Anyone who moors with a motor or paddle will enter through Gate 3 (Event map).

All event parking is free other than VIP parking, the only reserved parking available. There will be no traffic restrictions and the Swap Meet will occur on Sunday morning as usual. Shuttle buses will be available for those parking off-site, location and other details will be posted as the event nears. Available free parking will include: near Windsor 4, as well as off-site parking with available shuttles at:

The Express Shuttle Service is free round trip to and from the main gate (Gate 1 on Event map). The shuttle service will run from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The shuttle will run continuously (not on a set pick-up or drop-off schedule) without breaks.

Parking near the event site will be free and will be along London Bridge Road and in the London Bridge Plaza (with the exception of Sunday during the swap meet). Please be considerate of businesses in the surrounding event area. Vehicles that are left overnight will be towed. There is no parking allowed in the parking lots for either the English Village or the Havasu Landing Casino.

VIP parking will be available to everyone who purchases a VIP pass, and is located in the parking lot of the newly-built launch ramp at the south end of the State Park. Tour bus access only on the street that runs behind Bridgewater Motel; no other vehicle traffic permitted.

Boat Launching at Windsor/Lake Havasu State Park

Lake Havasu State Park, Lot 2 (the main launch ramp and parking area) will be open for public boat launching/trailer parking. Lot 1 (the PWC ramp), overflow parking adjacent to Lot 1 and Lot 2, and the new launch ramp area adjacent to Windsor 4 is reserved for Balloon Festival parking and camping. No boat parking will be permitted other than at Lot 2. Park rangers will direct boaters accordingly. Public access is subject to the State Parks rules and regulations for launching and parking.

Click on map to expand

Morning/Evening Ascension* Locations

Windsor 4, Bridgewater Channel, various parking/dirt lots around the London Bridge and throughout the city, golf courses, and schools. Ascension locations depend on wind direction and conditions; launch locations will not be known until the hour of ascension.

PLEASE REMEMBER! Ballooning is fully dependent on wind conditions. The safety of the operator and crew is always of the utmost importance; balloons cannot ascend in windy conditions and morning or afternoon ascension will be cancelled if the wind picks up. Notice of cancellation will not be known until the hour of ascension as wind conditions change quickly. For updates, check the Havasu Balloon Festival’s Facebook page.

Schedule

Tickets

Click here to purchase tickets for camping, VIP admission, and general admission.

Activities*

Mass Ascensions

Balloon Night Glow

Dog Shows

Arts & Crafts

Kids’ Events

Carnival Rides & Events

Live Stage Bands

Merchandise Vendors

Food Vendors

Gondola & SkyBox Club

Kite Displays

Daily Entertainment

The balloons love to soar over Lake Havasu City and in and around the Bridgewater Channel and the London Bridge, so get your cameras ready. Giant balloons lightly touch the water and quickly ascend if there are no boats or non-motorized craft or persons in harm’s way.

If you want to experience ballooning from lift-off, bring your cameras and watch as the balloon teams ready their rides for ascent and experience up close and personal the heat of the burners as the teams rise into the sky on the balloon field on the island or around town where they are lifting off. Balloon teams will be available throughout the weekend to talk about the art and history of hot air balloons.

Co-sponsored in partnership by: The London Bridge Lions Club, The London Bridge Rotary Club, the Lake Havasu Rotary Club, the Sunrise Rotary Club and the Daybreakers Lions Clubs. For more information contact Marquita McKnight (928.486.7979; marquita@impruvit.com) or Gary Lile (314.807.1971; bud7101@yahoo.com), or Jim Day (760.887.7818; jimjudy@suddenlink.net). The Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair, Inc. promotes philanthropy, volunteerism, and community camaraderie. Over 2,000 volunteers from the community and surrounding area assist in this event.

DID YOU KNOW? On January 9, 1793, the first balloon flight in North America was made by Jean Pierre Blanchard from Philadelphia to Gloucester County, New Jersey and George Washington was present to see the balloon launch!

*Mass Ascensions and balloon rides may be cancelled based on weather conditions. Balloon flight fees and event dates, times and/or details are subject to change. Please contact event coordinator or check event website to verify information.